Since the arrival of Sama Yoga into my life, I have noticed a transformation both within and without.
As is so often the way, the Sama Yoga teacher training came at just the right time for me, sandwiched protectively around the loss of a family member. Giving me strength, courage and a subtle, but definite shift within, the teachings also helped me to open my heart and follow it, which incidentally, now appears to have started to help those around me too.
Six months after qualifying as a Sama Yoga teacher (2016), I took a sabbatical from my job in publishing, travelling to India to explore yoga more deeply. Finally returning and resigning from my job in early 2018, I headed back to India. It was a world away from London and I knew, from there, I could only work in something I truly loved and cared about.
With an encouraging push in the right direction (and a few more yoga trainings under my belt - for children and for healthcare staff and patients), I ended up leaving London and relocating to our family farm in Wiltshire, close to Avebury (Avebury Stones).
Like a beautiful blooming lotus flower, out of the sadness of family loss, came many wonderful gifts; my first yoga teaching role, a part-time writing job (in the horticultural world), and a little place of my own on the farm - with a garden ensuring I can learn practically, what I am writing about! It is from here, in a renovated barn, by a huge sarsen stone, that one day in the future, I hope to grow Yoga By The Stone - a company I have recently created.
My classes are gentle, guiding, supportive, a little playful and different every time. Besides asanas, I use pranayama, mantra, yoga nidra and short meditations. Sama Yoga plays a big part, both in my language and the poses, and I have noticed, that the classes packed full of Sama Yoga, are those that make the biggest difference to the students.
Stefanie Young
